A Framework for Ethical AI at the United Nations
It tackles ethical AI governance for the UN, focusing on policy and implementation, which is incremental as it builds on existing frameworks.
The paper addresses ethical concerns in AI at the United Nations by proposing a framework to mitigate risks and align AI development with ethical values, recommending principles, standards, assessment methods, tools, and education programs.
This paper aims to provide an overview of the ethical concerns in artificial intelligence (AI) and the framework that is needed to mitigate those risks, and to suggest a practical path to ensure the development and use of AI at the United Nations (UN) aligns with our ethical values. The overview discusses how AI is an increasingly powerful tool with potential for good, albeit one with a high risk of negative side-effects that go against fundamental human rights and UN values. It explains the need for ethical principles for AI aligned with principles for data governance, as data and AI are tightly interwoven. It explores different ethical frameworks that exist and tools such as assessment lists. It recommends that the UN develop a framework consisting of ethical principles, architectural standards, assessment methods, tools and methodologies, and a policy to govern the implementation and adherence to this framework, accompanied by an education program for staff.